A New Vision Rehabilitation eLearning Program Specifically for Ophthalmologists

Low vision and blindness affect a substantial portion of the older adult population in the United States.

Although new research from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine indicates that the annual number of new cases of blindness and low vision among people aged 45 years and older is estimated to double during the next 30 years, referrals by ophthalmologists to vision rehabilitation services remain low.

Because of this low referral rate, many older adults have difficulty locating these services or are unaware that such services even exist.

In response to this dilemma, the Lighthouse Guild has introduced a new online course designed to help ophthalmologists direct their patients to low vision services. The “Introduction to Vision Rehabilitation” program has been made possible in part by support from the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation (RDPFS).

According to Susan Olivo, Executive Director of RDPFS, “We believe that both patients and doctors can benefit from better doctor/patient communications in the ophthalmic field. We are pleased to partner with Lighthouse Guild on this important initiative that will help to ensure that patients who have low vision are referred into the vision rehabilitation system in a timely and thoughtful manner.